Anticreeper.



0. R. BARNETT;

ANTICBEEPER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15'. 91h

[348,790. Patented Dee. 4,191":

3 SHEETS-SHEET 0. R. BARNETT.

ANTI CREEEER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15. HIM.

Pateilted Dec. 4,1917.-

3 SHEETS SHEET 2 'ANTICREEPER.

APPLICATION HLED JUNE \5| 1914- I Patented Dec. 4, 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3-- v WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT-OFFICE;

OTTO R. BARNETT, OF GLENCOE, ILLINOIS.

ANTTCREEI'ER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known lhat l, ()rro R. Bn ism'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at (ilencoe, in thee-minty 'of (look and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Anticreepers, of which the't'ollowin is a specilicatum.

My invention relates to improvements in that type of devices lor preventing the creeping of railway rails. which comprises a yoke provided at opposite ends with jaws for engaging the rail base. and a key 01' wedge provided with a tie abutting member andadapted to clamp the aws otth'e yoke into gripping engagement w1th -the rail, preferab y with a spring zlCllO ll, and m such a manner thatthe tendency ot the rail to creep will progressively tighten the grip of he .device on the rail.

, eiency, maximum strength with minimum weight of material, simple ot design easy of application and securely attached to the red at all times, re ardless of whether ornot the lie abutment is in engagement w1th thc tie. A further object of my invention is to secure a maximum of elticient resiliency combined with a maximum of strength and holding power. The resilient-y or spring ac tion may be provided by the yoke or by the wedge, or by both.

In the preferred form of Jn y lnventfon the Yoko and jaws are. formed integrally of a single piece of metal, preferably relatively thin metal, such as sheet steel, termed up 111 sueh'a manner that there .is a. maximum of resiliency in the direction in which res l ence is desirable, and a. minimum of resiliency with a maximum of resistance in hold ng power in the direction in which the creeping strain of the rail is applied.

Another object of my invention is to provide anovel spring wedge for anti-creepers, regardless of the particular form of yoke used. v

'Anotherobject of my invention 1s to proride an automatic takeup or locking device- -w erebv the wedge and the yoke may be positively interlocked. These and such other objectsas may hereafter appear. are attained bv my device, certain preferred formsof which are disclosed in the accompany ng drawings, in which f Figure 1 'llustrat es my device with a spring y k Specification of Letters Patent.

{The object of my invention is to provide a dicvice of this: character of highest elhrid spring wedge applied to the base of the rail, the yoke and jaws being formed of one piece;

Fig. 2, an end view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 2, a modified arrangement of the jaws of Fig. '2;

Fig. 2", another modification;

Fig. 3, a perspective view of the device shown in Fig. 1:

F ig. 4, aplan view of the blank for forming my improved yoke when the same 1s made with its jaws from a single piece of sheet metal;

Fig. 5, a plan view of a similar blank for my improved form of wedge;

i Fig. 6, a perspective view of the improved form of the blank of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7, a perspectiveview of a modified form of sheet metal wedge;

Fig. 8', a modification of. the form of wedge shown in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 9, a longitudinal section on line 9--9 of Fig. 1 but with a modified form ofwedge which may be the sheet metal wedge of Fig. 7,01 may .be a solid wedge.

Like characters otreference indicate the same parts in the several figures of the drawings.

A indicates a railway rail, B a tie or other abutment which may; be engaged by the. apron of-the wedge. C is the yoke which e and the jaw E on the one end and tie flanges d and the jaw D on the other are preferably less than the angle of, the inclined upper surface of the base of the rail sothat, withthe flanges or gripping members cl, 6, bent away from the tie. as shown, and snugly engaging the upper surface of the rail flange, any'tendency of the rail to creep or travel in the direction indicatedby Patented Dec. 4,1917.

Application filed June 15,1514. Serial no; a4 .1e2.

as d

the arrowwill tend to swing the. members (Z,-e int'he same direction. thus causing them to ride or wedgempwardlyuponthe lateral inclined uppersurfaeeof the rail base, there by tightening the vertical grip of themembers D, E, on the upper surface of the rail base. construction, the yoke and rail engaging jaws are formed up from the blank, as

shown in Fig. 4, of a single piece of rela-- (VVher-e, as in my: at present preferred body "of tlieyoke permitting of suitable tempering and eflicient spring action with. a minimum danger of breakage), at the same time the vertical grip of the paws or menr bers D, E will be edgewise of the metal, thus offering a strong, rigid, locking engagement with the surface of the rail tending to cause the sharp edges of the jaws to bite into and sufficiently grip the upper edge of the rail.

Furthermore, the jaws'being laterally resilient, they will tend to be moved iaterally to ward thetie by any longitudinal movement of the rail in that direction, such lateral swinging movement of the jaws causing them to ride upon and more efliciently wedge on to the inclined upper surface of the rail as previously noted.

\Vherc the yoke is madein one piece, the jaw D will have a sufficiently deep undercut to permit it to be Slipped over the rail until the flange 6 will clear the upper edge of the rail, whereu on the flange e' is slipped over 80 the rail an the rail base is seated inthe yoke, as shown in Fig. 1. Either or both pairs'of jaws, however, may'be made separate from the portion of the yoke extending underneath the rail, as shown in Fig. '2", in

which (1 indicates the strip extending -un llorncath the rail and D indicates a pai of jaws over which the bar or strip-C is Seated and is secured against longituduial displacement by the flange 0'. p

lt will be noted that in all forms of yoke shown inthe drawings, by a slight addition of metal each yoke provided with twojaws ateach end so that the breaking strain upon each anti-creeping d8VlUQ,iJBCtL1lS of the tendency of the rail tocreep, will be borne by (four jaws instead of two, thus dividing-the strain and increasing the strength ot the needed points, since experi= once has shown that in anti-creepers using a" b0=shoet in'ctal yoke, a most frequentpoint of ln'ealnige between the jaw and the yoke.

:.-c.'\pplying"my device, if it should happen that when first applied both jaws of each pair do 'not'eflectiyely engage the rail, the

prefer-r d arrangement. of the jaws abovedcscrib'ed permits of driving the non-engagin'gjuw'in the direction indicated by the arrow 'until it does ride sufiiciontly on the gtapered surface of the rail baseto grip. the flo sameybut, with proper care indesigning, this expedient :will not be'necossary. My device, as thus far described. is adaptable for use with any wedge providedwith a shoulder or abutment tozengage the tie. Such wedge in form i be or may not be provided With-cog rugations on its tapered under surface, as shown in Fi 9. tending o engage the upper corner of t in yoke bee ath t-l rail and farthest away from the tie. The yoke being resilient, the tendency of the wedging action would be to incline the yoke vertically lengthwiseoi' the rail, as shown in Fig. 9,

and thereby tip the corner mentioned into engagement with the corrugations on the under surface of the wedge. This action may be facilitated, if desired, by slightly ppsetting this upper corner of the vokc, as indicated in Fig. 9. Preferabl however, the

wedge is formed of the sing e piece of sheet metal, as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8." The wedge in Fig. 6 is formed from the blank shown in Fig. 5, the portion F forming the flat upper surface of the wed e which preferably engages the under sur ace of the rail base throughout its entirelength, the portion G bein bent at an angle to the portion F to form t e apron or tie abutting portion and the portions H bein longitudinal an preferably slightly taperefiflan es which are curved downwardly and inwardly, as shown in'Fig. 6, to form resilient or-sprin men hers, the inner ends of the flanges engaging and bracing the apron G. With such a wedge the yoke may 'be non-resilient and indeed the yoke andits jaws. may be cast in one piece in finished form, or, as I p1cfer,-tl1e yoke and the wedge may both be resilient. If desired, flanges H may he slit transversely as shown in Fig. 8, and bent at one or both edges of the slits out of a continuous plane, so as to provide aplurality of spring teeth adapted to spring over and engage the upper corner of the yoke under: neath the base of the rail, or any Jrojection which may he provided-on the yoke, as, for example, by upsetting the edge of the yoke, as shown in Fig, 9 and previously described. Fig. 7 shows a slightly different form sheet metal wedge in which the flanges H are bent at an angle, to the body portion F so'a-s to brace apron G, and are corrugated at their lower edges. In Fig. 2" it will be noted that the jaws Dare inclined at a proalso.

nonnc. angle transversely of'tlie yoke C D (the jaws. E being arranged likewise) resulting from, the tendency of the rail to creiip, becomes a pull edgewise of the'jaws D, rather than transversely thereon.

It is obvious that various. departures may be made from the exact structures shown without departing from the spirit of my inventionwhich contemplates such changes I'elaim: 'l. An anti-creeper comprising a yoke provided at each end with a plurality of rail holding jaws, means for holdingsame in engngement with the rail, and a tie abutting member, each of said jaws having substantially the same thickness in rross section as the body of the yoke.

i 2. An anti-creeper comprising a yoke adapted to extend underneath the rail and provided at each end with a plurality of rail ipping 'aws said yoke and jaws bein ormed o means for holding the same in engagement with the rail, and a tie abutting member.

3. An anti-creeper consisting of a yoke provided at opposite ends with a plurality of rail gripping jaws, said yoke and iii" 3 being formed of a single piece of resilient sheet-metal, means for holding the same in enga ement with the rail, and a tie abutting mem r. k 1 4. An anti-creeper comprising a yoke proided at each end with a plurality of rail gripping jaws, said yoke and jaws being formed of a sin le piece of resilient sheet metal, the jaws ein beat up laterally in opposite directions .rom the sides of the body of the yoke, means for holding said yoke under tension to hold said jaws in gripping engagement with the rail, and a tie abutting member.

5. An anti-creeper comprising a yoke adapted to extend beneath the base of a rail and provided at each end with a plurality of rail gripping jaws, said yoke and jaws being 'formedof a single piece of resilient sheet metal, and provided with.a tie abut ting member and arranged to be wedged between said yoke and the rail so as to hold the yoke under tension and the jaws in grippingv engagement with therail.

6. An anti-creeper comprising a yoke adapted to extend beneaththe base. of a rail and provided at opposite ends with a phir-ality of rail engaging jaws, said yoke and jaws being formed of a sin'g le piece of resilient sheet metal and said jaws being. bent upwardly from the opposite edges of said yoke so as to engage the'rail edgewise of the-metal, and a wedge provided with a tie abutting member and adapted to wed e between the rail and the yoke so as to ho d the yoke under tension 'and thereby hold the jaws in gripping engagement with the rail. 7, An anti-creeper comprising a relatively wide and "thin resilient member adapted to extendbeneath the'baseof a rail and provided .at each end with a plurality of rail engaging jaws, meansfor, holding said imember under tension whereby said jaws are held in gripping engagement with the raiL'and, a tie abutting member.

8. An anti-creeper comprising a relatively wide and thin resilient member adapted to extend beneath the baseof a rail and pro-- vided at opposite ends with pairs of rail "engaging jaws ,formed of relatively wide and thin metal and arranged to grip the rail cdgcwise of the thicknessof the metal,

a single piece of sheet meta means for placing said resilient. inbpr un-.

der tension, arid a tie abutting ember.

9. An anti-creeper com arising a resilient member of relativelv-wi e and thin metal adapted to extend underneath the rail and irovided at cach endwith aplurality of aws formed of relatively wideand thin resilient metal and arranged to engage the rail edgewise of the thickness of the metal, means for holding said. first named member under tension whereby said jaws are held grip ing engagement with the rail, and a tie a iutting member.

11. An anti-creeper comprising a yoke of resilient metal adapted to extend beneath the base of a rail and provided at each end with a pair of jaws formed of relatively wide and thin metal, each of said jaws having rail engaging flanges adapted to engage the rail edgewise oi the metal, said flanges being bent in a direction away from the tie abutting member, a wedge'ada'pted to hold said yokennder tension and saidtiangesin" 1oo wedge being provided with a tie abutting gripping engagement with the rail, said member.

12; An anthereeper comprising a relatively wide and thin yoke of resilient metal provided 'ateneh end with a pair of jaws of rail enga, in; flanges adapted to engage .the

; similar metal. said jaws being provided with rail edgewiso of the metal of said jaws, a

engagement with the rail, said wedge being provided with a tie abutlmgmember, said jaws being inclined in the direction of said tie abutting member and said flanges being bent in a direction away from sun] tie abutting member, substantially as described wedge adapted tobe interposed between the rail and said yoke to not said .yoke Under. tension andio hold s: iid flanges. in gripping 1?. An anti-creeper comprising av yokehavmg a pair of aws at: each end thereof,

each jaw having a rail engaging flange, a

wedge adapted to be wedged between the rail and said yoke to put said yoke under tension and to hold said rail engaging;

flanges in grippingengngcment with the rail, said wedge being provided with atie abutting member, said yoke, jaws and flanges being formed of a single piece of relatively thin resilient metal, said jaws be-- ing bent upwardly from opposite edges of said yoke and inclined 1n the direction of and. provided at opposite ends with rail engagingja'ws, one of said members being resilient and said wedge being provided with aplurality of teeth adapted to be engaged by an edge of said yoke when the,

wedge is wedged between the rail and said yoke so as to resist the separation of said elements.

15. In an anti-creeper the combination with a resilient yoke provided withrail engaging jaws, of a wedge adapted to be interposed between a rail and'said yoke to put said yoke under tension, said wedge and yoke being provided with co-engaging projections.

16. In an anti-creeper the Combination with a resilient yoke provided-with rail engaging jaws, of a resilient wedge adapted to be interposed between a rail and said yoke so as to put said yoke and the resilient parts of said wedge under tension, said yoke and wedge being provided with cn-engaging projections 17. In an anti-creeper the combination of a yoke provided withrail engaging jaws, of a wedge formed from a singlepiece of resilient sheet metal and provided with re silient flanges and adapted to be interposed between a rail and said yoke so as to pm;

said flanges under tension and hold said jfLWS in gripping engagement with the rail. 18. In an anti-creeper the combination of a yoke provided with rail engaging jaws,

of a wedge formed from a single piece of resilient sheet metal and provided with re silient flanges and adapted to be interposed between a rail and said yoke so as to put said flanges under tension and hold said said flanges being formed to provide a series of resilient teeth adapted to interlock with said yoke." f.

19, In an anti-creeper the combination of a yoke-provided with rail engaging jaws, of a wed e; formed from a sin 1e piece of resilient s cot-metal and provi ed with resilient flanges and adapted to be interposed between 'a rail and said -yoke so as to put.

said flanges under tension and hold said,

aws in gripping engagement with the rail.

' said flan es being-p'artially severed transversely, t 'eindividual sections thus formed being bent to provide a, series of resilient rack like teeth tapering toward the narrow end of said wedge.

20. An anti-creeper comprising a yoke adapted to extend under the base of a rail aws in gripping engagement with the rail,-

and formedwith two rail engaging jaws at each end, said yoke and rail engagin aws bcing'iiormed from a single. piece relathe aws bemg is to be applied, a wedge adapted to beinterposed between the base of. the rail and the body of said yoke,-said wedge being formed of a ngle piece of relatively thin resilient metal and being provided with resilient flanges bent downwardly from-the upper surface of said wedge, and with a tie abutting apron bent downwardly from' theupper surface of said wedge and transversely of said flanges, said flanges serving to brace said apron when subjected to strain by the tendency of the rail to creep, and said rail gripping flanges and the aws bein bent in a direction lengthwise of the rad and away from said tie engaging aprgn on the wedge when the deviceis-assembled on the rail.

21. The eoi-i'ibination with a railroad rail having a base, and a stationary part of a road bed, of an anti-creeper comprisin a bar extending beneath the rail and provided ange having a rail gripping, edge ta-' with means/to engage the top, of the rail base on each side thereof, and a stop part adapted to engage said stationary part and having a wedge extending between the bot tom of the rail and the top of the bar, said wedge having a top bearing face bearing against the bottom of the rail and having two separate bottom bearing faces spaced apart transversely of the rail and bearing upon the top of the bar.

22. The combination with a railroad rail having a base, and a stationary part of a road bed, of an anti-creeper comprisin a bar extending beneath the rail. and provided with means to engage the top of the rail base on each side thereof. and a stop part adapted to engage said stationar; part and having a. wedge extending between the bot:

tom of the rail and the top ofthe bar, said wedge having a top bearing face.bearingagainst the bottom of the rail and havin two separate bottom hearing faces spaced apart transversely of the rail and bearing upon the top of the bar, one element of the anti-creeper being sprang from a normal condition and forcing parts of the anticreeper against the rail in tending to resume 7 said normal condition.

The eombmat' n with a railroad rail having a base, and a stationary part of'a road bed. of an anti-creeper comprising a" bar extending beneath the rail and provided with meansto engage the top of the rail base on each side thereof, and a spring element inserted between the rail and the bar and and a stationary part of a road bed, of an antioreeper comprising an element adapted to engage the rail, and, a wed e element 111* sorted between the first name element and the rail, one element of the anti-creeper being formed of spri'n metal and "sprung from a normal condition and 'forcingparts ofthe anti-creeper against the rail in tending to resume said normal. condition, said wedge element having a stop projection cut from the body thereof and bent and extending into a position adapted to prevent move men! of the first namedelement toward the small and of the wedge, and one of said elements being adapted to engage said stationary part.

25. The combination with a railroad rail, and ,a stationary part of a roadbed, of an anti-creeper comprising an element adapted to engage the rail, and a spring wedge element inserted between the first named element and the rail and s 'n'ung from a normal condition and forcing parts of the anti-creeper against the rail in tending to resume said. normalicondition, said Wedge element having a site projection cut from the body thereof an not and extending into a position adapted to prevent move ment of the first named element toward the small end of the wedge.

26. The combination, with a railroad rail having a base, and a stationary part of a road bed, of an anticreeper comprising a bar extending beneath the rail and provided with, means to engage the to of the rail base on each side thereof, an a stop part adapted to engage said stationary part and having a wedge extending between the bot- .2 tom of the rail and the top of th'bar, one element ofthe anticreeper being formed of sprin metal and sprung from :1 nor mal conrhtion and forcing partsof the antiereeper against the rail in tendin to resume said normal condition, said We go having spaced slop projections cut from the bod thereof and bent; and'extending into os1- tione adapted to prevent movement 0. the bar from dillerent positions toward the small end. of" the wedge.

27. The ermibinatimi with a railroad rail and a stationary part of a road bed, of an antiereewr comprising an element adapted to engage the rail, "a wedge element inserted between the first named element and the rail, said wedgelnwing' a spring tongue forming a stop part adapted to be sprung from normal condition and to thereafter spring back into normal condition and pre vent movmnent of the first named element toward the small end oi the wedge, one of said elements beii'ig adapted to engage Said staliomiry part.

:38. An uni ion-oping device for rails com mining in (damp arranged to engage the rail base, a wedge located l'ietwcen said rail base and clamp, whereby the latter is caused to grip said rail base and arrest tb: creeping tendency of said rail, and a resilient pro jeetion depending from said Wedge and adapted to snap behind said clamp whereby separation of said clamp and wedge is normall}; prevented.

29. An anti-creeping device for 'rails,c0m

prising a clamp arranged. to engage the rail base, a wedge located between said rail base and clamp whereby the latter is caused to grip said rail. base and arrest the creeping tendency of said rail, and a plurality of resilient projections located on said wed e at opposite sides of the wedging surface t ereof and. arranged to successively sna behind said clamp, whereby separation 0 said clamp and said Wedge is normally p re-i vented.

OTTO R: BARNETT.

Witnesses:

L. A. FALKENBERG, R. KUEHN. 

